Correctional Re-Entry Services

A pioneer in Correctional Services for 122 years, we champion the humane treatment of prisoners.

Individuals who have broken the law and have been sentenced to serve time behind prison walls generally receive little regard from the majority of society.

Over the years, the “system” has awkwardly labeled these individuals such monikers as ex-felon, ex-offender, ex-con, parolee, probationer, former convict, once-convicted criminal, formerly incarcerated, and the latest, politically correct, “returning citizen.” The latter sounds as though someone has been spending some long and happy months abroad and is just now finding their way back home to America.

But the truth is the designation isn’t as important as the person. These are real people—mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, husbands and wives. And for whatever reason, they have now found themselves as an added statistic to another prison report, but they are every bit as human as we are. They are desperately seeking the same basic things as we are and approaching their future with some amount of trepidation just as we are.

Maud Booth, our co-founder, knew this. Booth once said, when she spoke to a group behind prison walls, “When you have served your time, I will nurse you back to health, I will get you work, above all, I will trust you. I will help you over the rough places but, mind you, I will not carry you.”

Today, Volunteers of America continues to address the issues that these citizens face as they make their way back into the communities from which they came because we believe everyone deserves a second chance - and the respect and dignity that goes along with it.

We provide services to help offenders successfully transition from prison to a productive life in the community and we help rehabilitate adult offenders and steer youth to set new, positive directions for their lives. Our services include halfway houses and work-release programs, day reporting, diversion and pre-trial services, residential treatment, family supports, and dispute resolution and mediation services.

"I think they are accomplishing things I don't believe they would have accomplished had I continued down my path of drug and alcohol abuse. It wasn't until I came to live [at a Volunteers of America, Dakotas halfway house] that my attitude and thinking began to change."
-Jaime, a young mother of three talking about her kids

Backed by our previous legacy of services, our correctional professionals of today continue to develop innovative evidence-based service models to serve the disconnected and socially disadvantaged persons re-entering society after periods of incarceration.

Our unique partnerships within local communities represents one of the nation’s best opportunities to engage citizens in the process of offering acceptance, service and guidance to formerly incarcerated citizens. These efforts, not only provide life-changing benefits for the formerly incarcerated, but also make a direct impact on the health and vitality of the local community.

Specialized Case Management Services

Volunteers of America is a leader in the development of programs that provide specialized case management services to first-time offenders or targeted offenders, such as those charged with DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or domestic violence. Intensive supervision and support can also divert youth from the court system or incarceration. Specialized intensive case management services are provided to pre-trial defendants in the community who may otherwise be incarcerated while awaiting trial. Participants are connected with substance abuse and other services.

Residential Treatment

Specialized in-patient intensive treatment programs using cognitive behavior approaches, coupled with more traditional twelve step and relapse prevention services, are helping break the cycles of recidivism and are provided for both individuals, women parenting children as well as for youth referred by the criminal justice system.

Community Sanction & Re-Entry Centers

We provide a continuum of proven service models to help offenders rebuild their lives and re-enter their communities. Through services such as literacy training, housing location, and alcohol and substance comprehensive treatment, case management, offenders gain skills and are empowered to succeed. Residents secure employment, participate in education and life skills training and learn to give back to their community through community service experiences. Programs are operated through agreements with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Probation Department, as well as states and counties. Programs are operated in over 50 residential re-entry facilities located across the country.

Day Reporting

Volunteers of America also assists communities and governments by providing cost- effective and efficient services through day reporting. Day reporting provides low-risk offenders with a way to make amends to the community and serve their sentences or parole sanctions in a community center without the incurring the high cost of a prison stay. These centers assess an individual’s needs, develop specialized treatment and/or case management plans, and emphasize employment and skills training. All offenders are monitored to ensure that the individuals served are meeting expectations.

To see if any of our local offices offer re-entry services in your area, use our zip code search to find an office near you.